The
use of New Jersey’s DNA database
to confirm the identity of a Camden City
rapist demonstrates the absolute importance,
effectiveness and legality of utilizing
DNA to identify dangerous career criminals.
I credit Camden County Prosecutor Vincent
P. Sarubbi and Camden City Police Chief
Edwin J. Figueroa for their immediate
determination to employ the State
Police DNA lab to obtain a proof-positive
match linking the suspect to a series
of brazen, daylight rapes which occurred
in Camden’s central business district.

I have every confidence that New Jersey’s
DNA statute will withstand legal scrutiny
notwithstanding a recent Superior Court
ruling which held that individuals convicted
of criminal offenses would be entitled
to have their DNA samples removed from
the state DNA database and destroyed upon
completion of a prison sentence, parole
or probation. In light of this ruling,
I have instructed the Division
of Criminal Justice to seek a Stay
of the Court’s Order and to appeal
the ruling to the Appellate Division.
It is law enforcement’s opinion
that the destruction of DNA samples that
have been legally obtained is tantamount
to destroying fingerprint cards which
remain in law enforcement files long after
the criminal is released from prison.
Simply put, the Court’s ruling is
wrong and jeopardizes the ability of law
enforcement to effectively do its job
and imperils the welfare and safety of
each and every New Jersey citizen.

In the past year, New Jersey’s DNA
program has obtained more than 70,000
samples from convicted criminals, thus
expanding the ability of law enforcement
to better investigate, arrest and prosecute
career criminals. Similarly, the DNA program
allows prosecutors to solve previously
unsolved or “cold” cases,
eliminate the innocent from suspicion,
and to identify those who have committed
no crime.